Reflections on a Tanzania Photo Safari

Feedback from our guest, Victoria El-Bay

On our last photography safari in Tanzania, we ventured to the south of the country; a somewhat underexplored but stunning wilderness that’s an absolute treat for wildlife photographers. Guided by Alan Hewitt, our group of photographers ventured to three different reserves, all with their own unique setting and photographic opportunities. One of our photographers, Victoria El-Bay, was kind enough to give us detailed feedback, and answer some questions about her experience. (Thanks, Victoria!)

What made you join this particular photo safari?

“As a relative beginner, I dabbled in architectural and landscape photography before catching the ‘wildlife photography bug’ on a short trip to South Africa earlier in the year. This shouldn’t have come as a surprise, since I’ve always loved exploring far-flung places and encountering their native wildlife – and I’m also keen to explore how tourism can help to protect and promote wildlife conservation. Photography seems uniquely placed to bring the beauty and wonder of myriad wildlife to a broad range of people and to encourage an understanding of issues around wildlife conservation.

So, why this trip? Two main reasons. Firstly, I knew that I needed a patient and experienced photographic tour leader to help me make the most of the opportunities offered, and I had heard from several sources that Alan Hewitt was just such a person (which he proved to be, a thousand times over!). Secondly, I loved the opportunity of visiting three lesser-known areas of Tanzania with very varied habitats.”

What were highlights of the trip?

“Gosh, where do I start? Is it seeing herds of zebras and elephants gathering at a watering hole in Mikumi National Park as the sun sets? Watching a gang of lion cubs playing while their parents tried to snooze in the midday sun? A tribe of vervet monkeys crossing the river in Ruaha National Park, leaping from rock to rock (and occasionally misjudging their landing!)? The evening chorus of hundreds of hippos in the Rufiji river below us as we relaxed over an excellent dinner at the end of the day? Cruising down the river and observing the beautiful pygmy kingfisher or crowds of vibrant bee-eaters nesting in a cliff-face, then running into a broiling mass of crocs enjoying a kill before looking up to see the heads of curious giraffes
peering at us over the top of the tall bushes that line the riverbank?”

Find out about our next photo safari in Tanzania

Do you have a favorite moment you can describe?

“There were so many wonderful moments on this trip, but perhaps the most extraordinary encounter was with a large bull elephant in Ruaha National Park. We had pulled up to observe a mother elephant with her calf as they made their way down into a dried riverbed. While we were watching them, we became aware of a large figure approaching from behind. As I sat somewhat nervously on the back seat of our landcruiser by the open rear window, I underwent a very close inspection by trunk… a magical experience, but not alarming since we were very confident in the expertise of our local guide who had explained that, since we were stationery and had been approached by the elephant, not the other way around, we were not considered a threat and were merely an object of curiosity. (This understanding stood me in good stead on the final night of our stay, when I woke in the early hours to the sound of something brushing against the wall of my tent behind my head, and then watched through the flysheet in awe as two huge
figures slowly made their way around my tent and down towards the river.)”

Overall, was the trip what you expected?

“Yes – and more! I was overwhelmed by the knowledge and skill of our guides who were full of interesting facts and insights into the local flora and fauna. They also seemed to be able to spot the unseeable and manoeuvre us into prime positions for the best photographic opportunities. Our accommodation and food was excellent throughout. Most importantly, Alan was a great tour leader who offered gentle photographic guidance throughout our safaris and always found the time to go through any issues we may have had once we were back at base.

I also need to give a shout-out to Amy and her colleagues at Penda who were very supportive when I became stranded in Doha en route (when all flights were disrupted by Iranian missiles aimed at Israel), thus delaying my arrival from the UK by 24 hours. It was great to know that they were there in the background re-arranging hotel bookings and flights while I tried to get to Dar Es Salaam. When I eventually rang them on landing unexpectedly early the next morning, 40 minutes before the original group flight to Mikumi was due to leave, somehow they managed to get me back on that flight and arranged for an indomitable local agent to retrieve me at one airport terminal, transfer me to another and get me through security with 10 minutes to spare. What a team!”

What did you learn as a photographer?

“So much! Thrillingly, I can now get a decent picture of a bird in flight for a start! I learned to think beyond a classic ‘portrait shot’ to study the animal within its environment and consider how best to represent both – thereby gaining greater skill in using depth of field settings for different purposes. Alan also encouraged me to think of using available shortcuts – trying out aperture, shutter speed and auto ISO settings rather than full manual – to speed up reaction time and avoid missing shots. We talked about assigning custom modes to buttons on my OM1mkii, and we had a session on using my camera for video too – something I still need to work on, I’m ashamed to say: I look forward to using this option more on my next trip!”

Keen to join our next photography tour in Tanzania? Find out more!